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WORK is expected to get underway this week on a long-awaited playground for communities in South-East Clare. The facility will serve the communities of Westbury, Shannon Banks, Carraig Midhe, Parteen, Ardnacrusha and beyond This follows representations by Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey to the Rural Development Directorate of Clare County Council who informed him that a resolution has been reached on a series of issues relating to the site of the new facility. Commenting the background, Deputy Carey said that €92,500 was allocated from the Hinterland fund six years ago to develop recreational services in areas of Clare that bordered Limerick City. Matching funding from Clare County Council brought the total up to €185,000 and a number of potential sites were considered as possible locations for a playground to serve the local communities. “Following the scoping of these sites and the elimination of some proposed locations, a playground committee made up of local community members was formed and they …

As part of the Cusack 175 programme, the Michael Cusack Centre is running traditional hurley making workshops this Friday. ‘Camán to the Burren’ is a 45 minute traditional hurley making demonstration which will b delivered this Friday from 1-4pm by Aidan Cuddihy of Mac Coda Hurleys (Inagh). Further workshops will be delivered on the first Friday afternoon of each month to October 2022. Given there is a Munster Hurling final featuring the Banner this weekend and this is the home of the founder of the GAA, it is an appropriate time to explore the art and craft of hurley making.

PLANS to develop lands on the County Clare side of its campus as an Economic Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) are advancing, according to Minister Simon Harris. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was asked by Deputy Cathal Crowe for an update on the University of Limerick’s (UL) plans for the portion of its campus which is located in Clare.  Minister Harris, who visited UL last week, said that while his department doesn’t have direct role in the project, meetings have been taking place between the university, Clare County Council and relevant government officials.  “UL has indicated that, as part of its future campus planning, it is advancing an application for the designation of lands on the County Clare side of its campus as an Economic Strategic Development Zone or SDZ,” the minister said. “UL has indicated to my Department that it sees potential for new and innovative models of teaching and learning through designation of …

SPORTING organisations in Clare are to benefit to the tune of €216,550 in government funding through sports capital appeals. The village of Newmarket-on-Fergus fares particularly well with €80,837.81 going to the local GAA club for its Cora Caitlin GAA Renovation Project. Meanwhile €56,073.39 goes to Newmarket-on-Fergus school board of management for the development of an artificial playing surface. Some €50,122.35 has been granted to the Russell Cultural Centre Doolin for the refurbishment of Doolin Community Centre Sports Hall for Multi-Sport purposes. Finally €29,515.70 goes to Lifford Oldtown FC for the development of a synthetic training area for soccer. Welcoming the news, Senator Roisin Garvey said, “Thanks to Green Party Minister for Sport Catherine Martin for supporting the sports capital appeals of these Clare groups and providing €216,550 in Sports Capital funding for Clare Sport.

A NEWLY filed financial statement for Lahinch Seaworld showed that while it had significant liabilities, its €6 million redevelopment should lead to an improvement in fortunes. The statement indicates that the upgrade “will result in increased revenue and improved profitability and cashflow over the coming years”. While there was a profit in 2020, it barely put a dent in the liabilities faced. The financial statement read, “The Company recorded a profit of €3,131 (2019: loss €20,720) during the financial period ended 31 December 2020 and at that date, had net current liabilities and net liabilities of €1,349,140 (2019: €643,131) and €417,485 (2019: €420,616) respectively.” The statement said that Clare County Council had provided vital support to help with the redevelopment. “The directors note that in February 2019, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund approved funding for the ‘Lahinch Seaworld and Town Upgrade Project’. “The project is for a substantial upgrade of the seaworld building and associated public realm works in …

GARDAI are appealing for the public’s assistance following a stabbing in Kilrush over the weekend. On Saturday night, May 28, a man in his mid-30s presented at Kilrush Garda Station with a stab wound to his lower back. He outlined that at 10.50 p.m. at Crawford Street, Kilrush, he was stabbed from the rear by an unknown male. He was removed by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick for treatment. If anyone was in the area of Crawford Street around this time and witnessed this incident or anyone that may have dash cam footage gardai are asking them to contact Kilrush Garda Station on 9080550.

TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has confirmed to Clare’s Fine Gael TD that the new defective blocks grant scheme will be introduced by way of primary legislation. He warned, however, that a consultative process as part of the legislative drafting could further delay the new scheme.  In response to concerns from pyrite and mica action groups, including that in Clare, Deputy Joe Carey raised the matter directly with the Taoiseach. He asked for clarity on what kind of consultation will take place on the new scheme. Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG), and others, have raised concerns over numerous aspects of the enhanced grant, including the updated damage threshold for affected homes. Last week the CPAG wrote to all Oireachtas members to tell them that a process without pre-legislative scrutiny must be opposed. “Householders in County Clare are anxiously awaiting admission to the enhanced defective concrete block scheme,” Deputy Carey reminded the Taoiseach. “Further laboratory analysis of affected homes in County Clare has …

OVERWORKED medical scientists operating in Mid-West acute public hospitals are very close to burnout due to chronic staff shortages, poor pay and working conditions, according to one individual involved in a national dispute. Medical Scientists suspended their second day of industrial action planned for last Wednesday after accepting an invitation to attend the Labour Court for exploratory talks on the dispute. There are 150 medical scientists working in the UL Hospitals Group including nine in Ennis Hospital, one is on maternity leave and two are part-time. The Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA) has instructed its members to suspend further industrial action and resume work on Wednesday after participating in two days of strike action on Wednesday, May 18, and Tuesday, May 19. However, the Labour Court will have to resolve a lot of long-standing issues quickly to prevent medical scientists returning to the picket line. Medical scientists complete a wide range of work processing and analysing blood and urine samples, …